About the song
Gordon Lightfoot, a name synonymous with Canadian folk music, has etched his mark on the musical landscape with his evocative storytelling and haunting melodies. Among his most celebrated works is the epic “Canadian Railroad Trilogy”, a masterpiece that chronicles the monumental construction of Canada’s transcontinental railway. Released in 1976 as part of his album Summertime Dream, this ambitious composition serves as a testament to Lightfoot’s ability to merge music with the rich tapestry of Canadian history.
Spanning over six minutes, “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” is divided into three distinct parts, each painting a vivid picture of the railway’s construction and its impact on the land and its people. Lightfoot’s lyrics, both poetic and informative, transport listeners to a time when the vast Canadian wilderness was being tamed by the relentless determination of thousands of workers. The song delves into the challenges faced, the sacrifices made, and the triumphs achieved as the railway slowly inched its way across the continent.
Upon its release, “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” was met with widespread acclaim, solidifying Lightfoot’s reputation as a gifted storyteller and a leading voice in folk music. The song’s historical significance and musical grandeur resonated deeply with listeners, earning it a place on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Its success helped to establish Lightfoot as a cultural icon, a musician whose work captured the essence of the Canadian spirit.
Throughout his career, Gordon Lightfoot has garnered numerous accolades, including several Juno Awards and honors for his contributions to Canadian music and culture. “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” remains a cornerstone of his musical legacy, appreciated for its detailed narrative and grand, sweeping melody. The song’s ability to evoke a sense of national pride and historical awareness underscores Lightfoot’s exceptional talent for blending music with storytelling.
For fans of folk and historical music, “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” offers a rich and immersive experience that highlights Gordon Lightfoot’s remarkable skill in capturing the essence of a pivotal moment in Canadian history. It stands as a testament to his ability to create music that is both deeply meaningful and widely resonant.
Video
Lyrics
There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
Long before the white man and long before the wheel
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
But time has no beginning and the history has no bound
As to this verdant country they came from all around
They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forest tall
Built the mines, mills and the factories for the good of us all
And when the young man’s fancy was turned into the spring
The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring
Their minds were overflowing with the visions of their day
And many a fortune lost and won and many a debt to pay
For they looked in the future and what did they see?
They saw an iron road runnin’ from the sea to the sea
Bringin’ the goods to a young growin’ land
All up from the seaboards and into their hands
Look away sad days
Across this mighty land
From the eastern shore
To the western strand
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We got to lay down the track and tear up the trails
Open your heart, let the life blood flow
We got to get on our way ’cause we’re movin’ too slow
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We’re gonna lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
Open your heart, let the life blood flow
We got to get on our way ’cause we’re movin’ too slow
Get on our way ’cause we’re movin’ too slow
Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin’
The stars they come stealin’ at the close of the day
Across the wide prairies our loved ones lie sleeping
Beyond the dark ocean in a place far away
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin’ our hammers in the bright blazin’ sun
Livin’ on stew and drinkin’ bad whiskey
Bendin’ our backs ’til the long days are done
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin’ our hammers in the bright blazin’ sun
Layin’ down track and buildin’ the bridges
Bendin’ our backs ’til the railroad is done
So over the mountains and over the plains
Into the Muskage and into the rain
Up to St. Lawrence on the way to Gaspé
Swingin’ our hammers and drawin’ our pay
Layin’ ’em in and tyin’ ’em down
Away to the bunkhouse and into the town
A dollar a day and a place for my head
A drink to the livin’, a toast to the dead
Oh, the song of the future has been sung
All the battles have been won
On the mountaintops we stand
All the world at our command
We have opened up this soil
With our teardrops and our toil
Oh, there was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
Long before the white man and long before the wheel
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
And many are the dead men
Too silent to be real